Ohio Voters to Decide on Infrastructure Funding

When Ohioans vote on May 6, they will have the opportunity to make decisions on how the state funds infrastructure improvements such as roads, bridges and water supply systems for counties, cities and townships.

Issue 2, a proposed constitutional amendment, authorizes the State of Ohio to issue general obligation bonds. This financial tool allows the state to make significant investments in infrastructure projects now, with a plan for repayment over time. These bonds would be used to pay for or help local government pay for public infrastructure such as roads and bridges, wastewater treatment systems, water supply systems, solid waste disposal facilities, and storm water and sanitary collection, storage and treatment facilities.

The Ohio Constitution currently contains a provision authorizing the State of Ohio to issue bonds to finance those projects through the State Capital Improvements Program. This proposed constitutional amendment would simply renew the state's ability to issue bonds for this purpose, ensuring this existing support can continue and potentially expand.

Proponents for Issue 2 say it will ensure public health and safety as well as preserve jobs, enhance employment opportunities, and improve the economic welfare of the people of Ohio by improving public infrastructure. They contend local communities need help to fix deteriorating roads, bridges, and other facilities, and Issue 2 renews a 38-year program to help local governments with those improvements.

They also say all 88 Ohio counties have benefited from this program, which has produced more than 19,000 grants and loans for projects, and they state that an objective grant allocation process assures fairness so that communities both large and small receive funding. Regarding taxes, Issue 2 supporters say taxes will not be raised, as funds to repay project bonds are already built into state budget planning.

Issue 2 opponents, on the other hand, argue the amendment will increase debts for infrastructure improvements by allowing the state to issue more general obligation bonds. They say this will result in all Ohio taxpayers paying interest on those bonds to cover local government projects for which they do not see a direct benefit. Instead, they say local governments should use local dollars to pay for those infrastructure repairs.

They believe Issue 2 represents an increase in the amount of borrowed money and spending on local infrastructure as compared to previous years and will take up to 30 years to pay back.

You can read more about the bill and the language in its entirety here.

As a reminder, any in-person Ohio voter needs to have photo identification, such as a driver’s license, an Ohio ID card, a U.S. passport, a U.S. military ID, a U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs ID or an Ohio National Guard ID.

Identification must include an expiration date that has not passed, a photograph of the voter and the voter’s name.

You can visit the Secretary of State’s website for more information, including a sample ballot and how to find your polling location.